Outdoor sleeping bag



01.14,1941. 1o. RANKEN M 2,259,267

OUTDOOR SLEEPING BAG Filed March 21, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor James 0. Ranken Attorzieys Oct. 14, 1941. J. o. RANKEN 2,259,267 4 OUTDOOR SLEEPING BAG Filed March 21', 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor James '0. Ranke n' 0611. 14 1941. I Q RANKEN Q 1 2,259,267

OUTDOOR SLEEPING BAG Filed March 21, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s In ven tor James O. Ranker:

Patented a. 14,1941

UNITED v ou'rnooa SLEEPING BAG James 0. Ranken, Portland, Ore;

Application March 21, 1941, Serial No. 384,528 I 8 Claim.

This invention relates to outdoor sleeping bags of the type adapted to be rolled up into a smallsized bundle for convenience in carrying and adapted to be quickly unrolled and spread out on the ground when desired for use.

It is customary to make such sleeping bags with an outside covering or envelope of canvas,

duck, oiled silk, or the like, which has beenrendered more or less-water-repellant, and to have the inside portion or sleeping bag itself made of suitable softer fabric and preferably padded with wool, kapok, down or other suitable filler to form a soft warm quilt extending under and over the sleeper. It is also customary to provide an extension at the head of the underneath portion of the outer envelope or covering-to constitute a head flap which may be supported on sticks above the head of the sleeper to form a partial protection over the sleeper's face.

While sleeping bags of the general type above described are adequate under ordinary circumstances, they do not afford suflicient protection in rain or stormy weather, and an additional shelter is then necessary, such as that afforded by a tent. Furthermore ordinary sleeping bags do not give proper protection for the head of the sleeper against mosquitos or other insects, nor do they give the sleeper protection from the sun or afiord him any privacy if he desires to use the sleeping bag in the daytime.

In order to provide for such additional protection, some attempts to combine a sleeping bag and tent have previously been made. I have found, however, that a fault common to all such attempted combinations of this nature, as far as I have been able to observe, is that they are cumbersome, inconvenient, require considerable time to set up and take down, and, in general, are so much heavier and more bulky than the ordinary sleeping bag, that they are impractical for carrying in a packon the back, and thus have not met with much success on the market.

An object of this invention is to provide a sleeping bag which can readily be converted into a storm-proof shelter tent.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sleeping bag in which the top section of the outer covering may be separated from the main sleeping bag portion on three sides and raised above said main portion so as to form a sloping shelter over the latter.

A further object is to provide a combined small tent and sleeping bag which may be closed entirely either from the outside or the inside.

bag. with a simple means for furnishing comirzilsetet protection against mosquitos and other ecs.

A further and important object of thisinvention is to provide a sleeping bag fulfilling these requirements which will be simple and practical in construction, easy to, set up and adjust, but which will weigh little, if any, more than an ordinary sleeping bag, and will be just as compact and as easy to roll up and pack as the sleeping bags now in common use.

These and incidental objects I attain by constructing my sleeping bag with certain improvements arranged in the manner hereinafter briefly described with reference to the accompany ing drawings. 7

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows my improved sleeping bag unrolled and stretched on the ground ready for use in the same manner as any ordinary sleeping bag, such use being suitable when no additional shelter or protection is required;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, drawn to a slightly larger scale, of the head end of my sleeping bag showing the top-section of the outer covering unfastened and slightly raised to disclose the folded side flaps thereunder;

Figure 3, which is drawn to a smaller scale, illustrates the same sleeping bag with the top section of the outer covering in its extreme raised position; Figure 4 is a view correspondingtoFigure 3 showing the tent shelter provided by the outer covering of the sleeping bag completely set up and with the mosquito netting side flap secured in place to provide an insect-proof shelter tent, the side storm flap being rolled up out of the way;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, drawn to a larger scale, of the foot end of a sleeping bag, showing in more detail the arran'gement of the various zipper adjustable and interchangeable fastening means constituting an important feature of the bag; and

Figure 6 shows one of the two poles used for supporting the head end of the sleeping bag covering when the same is to be used to form a shelter. v

Referring first to Figure 1, my improved sleeping bag includes an outer envelope covering having a bottom section I, atop section 2 and a head-piece extension 3 attached to the head end of the bottom section. This outside covering may be made of light canvas or of any of the other An additional object is to provide a sleeping fabrics from which it is customary to make sim- I sewed to the other side ilar outer coverings of sleeping bags, and this covering should preferably be water-repellant. The head-piece 3 has a triangularly-shaped flap 4 at each side; and, where the flaps 4 join the head-piece, hemmed loops 5 are formed in which the rope 6 are slidably held. The ropes 6 are used for tying the sleeping bag bundle when the sleeping bag is rolled up, in the manner customary with ordinary sleeping bags. These ropes also serve a further purpose which will be shown later. An end of each rope is preferably formed into a spliced loop as at 1. The top section 2 of the cover is made with a pair of loops 8 attached at the foot end for use in holding the sleeping bag in place on .the ground when it is to be converted into a shelter.

The actual sleeping bag or inside portion is composed of a padded blanket or quilt 9 which is folded over on its center line, one-half serving as a mattress and the other half serving as a covering over the sleeper. The mattress half is attached to the bottom section I of the cover at two sides and at the foot, and is also secured to the cover at the head end by means of snap'fasteners or buttons I0, making it possible, when these fasteners are unfastened, to insert an additional blanket or air mattress between the outside cover and this inner portion.

The upper-half of the padded blanket 9 is attached to the top section 2 of the cover at the foot and is also attached at the head end to the top section 2 of the cover by means of snap fasteners or buttons I I by which it is connected to a flap I2 of the outer coger. Thus the upper-half of the quilt or padded blanket 9 may,

easily be separated from the top section 2 of the cover at the head end. The side edge of this upper-half of the blanket 9 is attached to a longitudinal strip I3 extending along the entire side of the sleeping bag. This strip I3 is attached to the bottom section I of the cover by the zipper fastening I4, and this zipper fastening continues around the foot of the sleeping bag joining the top section 2 and bottom section I of the cover at the foot. Thus the zipper connection I4 makes it possible to open the sleeping bag out entirely for airing. A series of snap fasteners maybe substituted for the zipper fastening if this-type of sleeping bag is desired.

A triangular or wedge-shaped flap IIa (see Figure 2) is sewed to one of the adjacent edges of the bottom section I and top section 2 of the covering. When the top section 2 is not used as a shelter thisv wedge-shaped flap I'Ia is folded between the 'top section 2 and the top of the padded mattress or blanket 9. When the top section 2 of the covering is not to be used as a shelter, that is, when the sleeping bag is to be used in the ordinary manner illustrated in Figure 1, the top and bottom sections 2 and I are connected together'at the edge by the zipper fastening I5a, I5b (Figure 2).-

A similar wedge-shaped'fiap I! (Figure 2) is edge of the top section 2 of the cover. This flap I1 however, unlike the corresponding flap I'Ia on the other side, is not sewed to the edge for the bottom section I but is adapted to be attached to the top of the'longitudinal strip I3 by means of a zipper edge I60 (see Figure 5) which may be fastened to the zipper edge I 6a at the top edge of the longitudinal strip I3, through the medium of the zipper I6. A secondflap I8 has its upper edge also sewed to the top section 2 of the cover inside of and adjacent to the-flap II. This inside flap, however, is formed of mosquito netting or similar material instead of being formed of the same material as the cover and flap II. The bottom edge of this inner flap I8, which I designate as the mosquito flap, also carries a zipper edge lid adapted to be Joined to the zipper edge I 61.1 of the longitudinal strip I3. A fourth zipper edge I6b is secured along the outer edge of the top-section 2 of the cover and likewise adapted to cooperate with and be Joined to the zipper edge Ilia. Thus either of the three zipper edges 16b, IBc or I6d may be united with the zipper edge I60. by the zipper IS. the three edges being interchangeable in the manner common to separable and removable zipper fastenings.

,When the top section 2 of the cover is in the ordinary position shown in Figure 1, the zipper edge I5!) is secured to the zipper edge IBa and the two flaps I1 and I8, like the flap I'Ib, are folded between the top section 2 of the cover and the padded blanket 9. When the cover is to be raised to form a shelter, the zipper edges lib and I6!) (Figure 2) are unfastened.

The edge of the-flap I'Ia (Figure 2) at the head of the sleeping bag carries a zipper edge 20!) adapted to cooperate with the zipper edge 20a on one of the flaps for the head-piece 3. The corresponding edges of the flaps I1 and I8 (see also Figure 3) similarly carry zipper edges 2Ib and 2Ic respectively adapted to cooperate with the zipper edge 2Ia of the other flap 4 on the same side of the sleeping bag. The other edges of the flaps 4 (Figures 1 and 2) are extended slightly as at 22 and carry snap fasteners 23 adapted to fit cooperating members 24 on the sides of the bottom section I.

The bottom section I of the cover is made with a pair of eyelets .21 at the head and located at opposite sides (Figure 2), and a pair of corresponding eyelets 28 are carried in the top section 2. These eyelets are adapted to accommo of, the sleeping bag cover is to be formed into a shelter.

As previously mentioned, my improved sleeping bag may be used exactly as any ordinary sleeping bag'when no further shelter is required, but when it is desired to have an additional protecting shelter, this may bequickly and easily formed out of the cover in my improved sleeping bag. To form such a shelter the top section 2 of the cover is unfastened on two sides. First the fasteners I I, by which the flap I 2 is attached to the top of the padded blanket 9, are unfastened. Then the zipper edges I5b and Ilib (Figure 2) are unfastened, making it possible to raise the top section 2 of the cover from the rest of the sleeping bag. In order to hold the foot of the sleeping bag in place, a pair of stakes 3| are driven into the ground and the loops 8 of the cover placed around the stakes. The poles 25 are inserted in place as shown in Figure 3, with their ends inserted in the eyelets 21 and 28 of the bottom and top sections of the cover, respectively. The free end of the head-piece 3 of the cover is attached to the flap I2 of the top section 2, by means of the cooperating fasteners II and I9 (see Figure 2), and similarly the cooperating fasteners 23 and 24 are fastened together respectively securing the extensions 22 of the side flaps 4 to the underside of the bottom section I.

For convenience I prefer to make the poles 25 I consider it sufficient to have the opening flaps in two sections, 25a and 25b, as shown in Figure 8, each pole being provided with a metal collar 26 v attached to one of the sections 25b and extending beyond the end of that section so as to provide a socket into which the other section 250 can be inserted. Making each pole in two sections in this manner facilitates thev packing of the poles and the rolling of the sleeping bag into asmaller bundle. I

In order to keep the poles 25 in position so as to hold the top section 2 of the cover in the raised position of Figures 3 and 4, the loop ends I of the ropes 6 (Figure 1) are slipped over the protruding top ends of the poles, and these ropes are then fastened aroundvstakes in the ground as shown in Figure 4. The zipper'edges 20a and 201) (Figure 3) are next secured together, thus forming a shelter tent open on one side, or which could be made similarly to open on both sides if desired.

Assuming that it is desired to use the mosquito flap I8 for covering th remaining side of the shelter tent, instead of the outer flap ll, the outer flap i1 is rolled up on the outside and tied up out of the way by the strings 32 attached to the top cover section}. The zipper edge ltd of the mosquito flap I1 is now connected to the zipper edge Ilia, by the zipper l6, and finally the zipper edge 21a of the head-piece 3 and the zipper edge 2lc of the mosquito flap ill will be connected by the zipper 2|. The sleeping bag shelter is now completely set up and is in the form shown in Figure 4. To enter this shelter from th outside all that is necessary is to unzip the zipper 2| and unzip one of the zippers H or IE. Unzipping the zipper H makes it possible to get directly into the sleeping bag proper, that is, between the two layers of the inner padded blanket; while unzipping the zipper I6 enables one to get into the shelter on top of the top layer of the padded blanket. When one is in the shelter tent thus formed and is on top of the padded blanket or sleeping bag proper, he may get under the cover without again getting out from under the shelter by using a supplementary zipper fastening 29 which I provide in the upper portion of the padded blanket 9 as shown in Figure 3 and which extends part way down the side.

All the zippers are made with double pull sliders or tabs, thus with a handle on each side, so that they may be manipulated from either side. Consequently the occupant in the tent-like shelter thus formed may seal himself in an insectproof shelter when the sleeping bag is set up in the manner illustrated in Figure 4, and the occupant may lie on top of the padded blanket on one side only. I

. Thus in my invention, by adding very little extra material .to the cover of the sleeping bag,

namely by'" adding only suflicient, material to the bulk in' the rolled upsleeplng bag, and b;

employing a few' extra fastenings, which also add but little to the expense or weight of the finished sleeping bag, I provied a simple practical outdoor sleeping bag which can be used in any climate and in all kinds of weather.

It would be possible of course to make various modifications in the sleeping bag which I have described, without departing from the principles of my invention. Thus it would be possible to substitute other types of fastenings for the zipper fastening illustrated and to provide other ways for arranging and detaching the flap portions. The form in.which I have described and illustrated my invention, however, I believe to b the most satisfactory for general purposes, but it is not my intention to limit my invention otherwise than as set forth in the attached claims.

I claim:

1. In an outdoor sleeping bag, a blanket arranged so as to form a top blanket section and a bottom mattress section, means for fastening said sections together, an outer covering comprising a bottom portion and a top portion, said mattress section attached to said bottom cover portion, said top blanket section attached at the foot to. said top cover portion, said top cover portion attachable to said bottom cover portion on three sides, wedge-shaped flaps extending between said top and saidbottom cover portions at two opposite sides, said flaps normally folded in between said top cover portion and said top blanket section, but adapted to form the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover portion is raised from said top blanket section, one of said flaps having one longitudinal edge permanently secured to one cover portion and means for de- 1 tachably connecting the other longitudinal edge if the weather is warm or may get inside the padded blanket without getting outside of the shelter or opening the mosquito flap. In case of a heavy storm the outer flap l'l may be unrolled part way.

If it is desired to leave the sleeping bag set up but protected from the weather, mosquito flap I8 is rolled up and tied out of the way by additional strings, (not shown), on the inside of the flap similar'to the strings 32, and the outer flap I1 is then, fastened down by securing its zipper edge I to the zipper edge I60. and the zipper edge 2lb to the zipper edge 2la. While I have shown the mosquito flap IS on one side of my sleeping bag only it would of course be possible to provide similar double flaps on the other side 'as well, in place of the sewedin flap Ila. However for all practical purposes of said latter-mentioned flap to the other cover portion, a head cover portion secured to the head end of said bottom cover portion, means for detachably connecting said head portion at the sides to the ends of said flaps, respectively, means for attaching the top end of said head portion to the corresponding head end of said top cover portion, and means for holding said top cover portion in raised positionwhen said sleeping bag is desired also to serve as a shelter tent.

2. In an outdoor sleeping bag, a blanket arranged so as to form a top blanket section and a bottom mattress sectiori, said sections permanently secured together at one side, means for fastening said sections together at the other side and at the foot of said sleeping bag, an outer covering comprising a bottom portion and a top portion, said mattress section attached to said bottom cover portion, said top blanket section attached at the foot to said top cover por-' tion, said top cover portion attachable to said bottom cover portion on two sides, wedge-shaped portion.

s'ectionione of said flaps permanently secured to said top cover portion and attachable to said bottom cover portion, a head cover portion se-f cured to the head end of said bottom cover portion, means for detachably connecting said head portion at the sides to the ends of said flaps, respectively, and means for attaching the top end of said head portion to the corresponding head end ofsaid top cover portion.

3. In an outdoor sleeping bag, a blanket folded over on itself and forming a top blanketsection and a bottom mattress section, means for fastening said sections together at the side opposite said fold, an outer cover comprising a bottom portion and a top portion, said mattress section attached to said bottom cover portion, saidtop blanket section attached at the foot to said top cover portion, said top cover portion attachable to said bottom cover portion on two sides, wedgeshaped flaps extending between said top and said strip, wedge-shaped flaps extending between said bottom cover portions at both sides, said flaps normally folded in between said top cover portion and said top blanket section, but adapted to form the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover portion is raised from said top blanket section, the flap on the side opposite said blanket fold having one longitudinal edge permanently secured to one cover portion and means for detachably connecting the other longitudinal edge of said latter-mentioned flap to the other cover portion, a mosquito flap corresponding in shape to and located adjacent to said latter-mentioned flap, one longitudinal edge of said mosquito flap permanently secured to one cover portion and means for detachably connecting the other longitudinal edge of said mosquito fiap to the other cover portion, a head cover portion secured to the head end of said bottom cover portion, means for detachably connecting said head portion at the sides to the ends of said first-mentioned flaps, respectively, and means for detachably connecting said head cover portion to said mosquito flap.

4. In an outdoor sleepingbag, a blanket folded over on-ltself and'forming a top blanket section and a bottom mattress section, an outer covering top and said bottom cover portions at both sides, said flaps normally folded in between said top cover portion and said top blanket section, but adapted to form the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover portion is raised .from said top blanket section, one of said flaps permanently secured to said top cover portion, means for detachably connecting said latter-mentioned flap to said longitudinal strip, a head cover portion secured to the head end of said bottom cover portion, means for detachably connecting said head portion at the sides to the ends of said' flaps, respectively, and meansfor attaching the top end of said head portion to the corresponding head end of said top cover portion.

6. In an outdoor sleeping bag, a padded blanket folded over on itself and forming a top blanket section and a bottom mattress section, an outer covering comprising a bottom portion and a top portion, said mattress section attachedto said bottom cover portion, a longitudinal strip attached to the side edge of said blanket section opposite said fold, said longitudinal strip attachable to said bottom cover portion, said top cover portion attachable to said bottom cover portion at one side and to said longitudinal strip at the other side, wedge-shaped flaps extending between said top and said bottom cover portions at both sides, said flaps normally folded in becomprising a bottom portion and a top portion,[

said mattress section attached to said bottom cover portion, said top cover portion attachable to said bottom cover portion on three sides, wedge-shaped flaps extending between said top and said bottom cover portions at two opposite sides, said flaps normally folded in between said top cover portion and said top blanket section, but adapted to form the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover portion is raised from said top blanket section, the flap on the side opposite said blanket fold permanently secured to said top cover portion and -attachable to said bottom cover portion, a mosquito flap corresponding in shape to and located adjacent to said latter-mentioned flap, said mosquito flap permanently secured to said top cover portion, means for detachably connecting said mosquito flap tosaid bottom cover portion, a head cover Portion secured to the head end ofrsaid bottom Y cover portion, means for detachably connecting said head portion at the sides to the ends of .said first-mentioned flaps, respectively, and

means for detachably connecting said head cover portion .to said mosquito flap, and means for attaching the top end of said head portion to the corresponding head end of said top cover 5. In an outdoor sleeping bag, a padded tween said top cover portion and said top blanket section, but adapted to form the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover portion is raised from said top blanket section, the flap on the side opposite said blanket fold permanently secured to said top cover portion, means for detachably connecting said latter-mentioned flap to said longitudinal strip, a head cover portion secured to the head end of said bottom cover portion, means for detachably connecting said head portion at the sides to the ends of said flaps, respectively.

'7. In an outdoor sleeping bag, a blanket folded over on itself and forming a top blanket section and a bottom mattress section, an outer covering comprising a bottom portion and a top portion, said mattress section attached to said bottom cover portion, a longitudinal strip attached to the side edge of said blanket section opposite said fold, said longitudinal strip attachable to said bottom cover portion, wedge-shaped flaps extending between said top and said bottom cover portions at both sides, said flaps normally folded in between said top cover portion and said top blanket section, but adapted to form the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover portion is raised from said top blanket section, the flap on the side opposite said blanket fold permanently for detachably connecting said mosquito flap to said longitudinal strip.

said top cover and said top section, but adapted toiorm the walls of a shelter tent when said top cover is raised fromsaid top section, one of said flaps extending between said 5 flaps having one longitudinal edge attached to the edge of said top cover and means for detachably connectingthe other lomitudinal edge to the corresponding edge of said bottom section, a

head cover portion detachably connecting the head ends of said bottom section and said top cover, means iordetachably connecting said head portion at one side to the adiacent end of said one of said flaps, and means for holding saidtop cover in raised position when said sleeping bag is desired also to serve as a shelter tent. I

- JAMES O. RANKEN. 

